Spell Estate Wines from Frostwatch Vineyard

All of the fruit used to make Frostwatch wines comes from the Frostwatch Vineyard. Over the years, Frostwatch topped over or replanted to varieties that believed would thrive on the site and help to make exceptional wines…..Swan Clone for Pinot Noir, Wente Clone from the Platt Vineyard and Semillon to compliment Sauvignon Blanc. 

Frostwatch Vineyard & Winery is owned and operated by Brett Raven and Diane Kleinecke. While 2002 was the winery’s inaugural vintage, their interest in wine dates back to the mid-1980’s when they met while attending U.C. Davis. After completing their educations, Brett and Diane married and went to work in San Francisco’s Financial District. While they enjoyed urban life, they never gave up the dream of living in the country. In 1995 Brett and Diane had the opportunity to purchase property in Bennett Valley.  Shortly thereafter, they moved to Sonoma County and had the first of three children. After establishing the Frostwatch Vineyard, it became clear that Brett had found his calling. In addition to farming, he held a series of winemaking positions, (Alderbrook Winery, Matanzas Creek Winery, Ramey Wine Cellars) and took courses in winemaking through the U.C. Davis Extension. Frostwatch production has increased since the early days with nearly 1,800 cases produced from the 2013 vintage. 

Owner: Brett Raven and Diane Kleinecke

Location/Region/AVA: Bennett Valley

Farming Practices: Sustainable

Frostwatch is located in the recently established Bennett Valley appellation, located just south and to the East of the city of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County. Roughly defined by the Matanzas Creek watershed, it has been estimated that Bennett Valley had some 2,000 acres planted to wine grapes in the mid-1800s. Prohibition and phylloxera put an end to the area's fledgling wine industry and the region's potential remained untapped until the mid-1970s. At that time, a handful of modern viticultural visionaries embraced the notion that cool climate varietals, would thrive here and under careful guidance produce wines to rival the best from the old world. Largely due to the efforts of these individuals, the wine cognoscenti recognized Bennett Valley as an area that was synonymous with fine Merlot and Chardonnay. More recently, Bennett Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot and Syrah have been recognized for their exceptional quality.

Winemaking and farming represented a significant career change for Brett who spent his early working life as an attorney in a law office in San Francisco.  After making the move to Sonoma County he developed our Bennett Valley vineyard along with the help of veteran consultant, Bob Dempel.  Along the way, his passion for wine grew and Brett began applying himself to the art and science of winemaking.

A “Rubber Boots” winemaker, Brett literally learned the winemaking process from the bottom up. While attending U.C. Davis Extension courses and industry sponsored seminars, Brett has worked in wine production at Alderbrook Winery, Matanzas Creek Winery and Ramey Wine Cellars. This hands on winemaking experience, knowledge of vineyard practices, and close association with the winemakers who purchased our grapes, allowed Brett to learn rapidly and leverage his experiences at every stage of his professional development. At the beginning of 2009, Brett left his full time job with Ramey Wine Cellars to devote more time to Frostwatch. Now, Frostwatch wines crafted at Vinify" in Santa Rosa. Vinify specializes in providing state of the art winery facilities and equipment to small artisan producers and new ventures.